WASHINGTON, DC – Today, CFO Consulting Group announced a major expansion of services in the form of a new Public Affairs practice. The enhanced offering expands on the development/fundraising and compliance services for which CFO has become well known and regarded within the Democratic campaign, non-profit, and issue advocacy space. CFO Public Affairs also announced its first clients including the Greater Providence Board of Realtors and the City of Providence, Rhode Island. During the 2012 election cycle CFO Consulting Group assisted the successful $25 million affordable housing bond campaign in Rhode Island.

“After 5 years of intense focus building our compliance and development practices, we’re excited and ready to expand once again,” said CFO Consulting Group founding partner Brett Smiley. He continued, “CFO remains committed to providing our clients with the attention they deserve and results they need to be successful. We look forward to helping them meet the challenges ahead.”

With deep roots in electoral politics and issue advocacy campaigns, CFO Public Affairs offers clients an array of results driven services needed to exceed even the most challenging objectives. Having held leadership roles in races from California to Chicago to New England, founder Brett Smiley has mastered effective and creative messaging, harnessing the power of coalitions, and developing winning strategies.

The practice is anchored in Southern New England and builds on nearly a decade of work with the region’s biggest Mayors, statewide elected officials, and members of Congress. Its hands-on team of political professionals gives every project the careful consideration and intense focus it deserves.

With its particular expertise in local government, CFO Public Affairs is uniquely suited to assist developers and those working with municipalities. Additionally, as the prevalence of ballot initiatives continues to grow, the practice’s unparalleled electoral experience is an invaluable asset for those seeking to win at the ballot box.

Few can match the experience, innovation, and expertise that CFO Public Affairs leverages on behalf of clients.

Selected CFO Consulting Group Past and Present Clients

Over the years, CFO has assisted dozens of clients with development/fundraising and compliance services, including:

Brett Smiley is the founding partner of CFO Consulting Group offering clients results driven services meeting all of their public affairs, development, and compliance needs. After beginning his career as an accountant, Smiley fell into electoral politics in his hometown of Chicago. From 2002 to 2006, he traveled the nation as a professional campaign manager and fundraiser for candidates on the state and national level. In 2007, Smiley founded CFO and over the past five years, his team has helped dozens of candidates, Democratic parties, political action committees, issue advocacy organizations, and charities meet and exceed their fundraising, accounting, and compliance goals. His background in managing everything from a hundred thousand dollar county board campaign to a multimillion-dollar gubernatorial bid provides him with the perspective and expertise needed to assist clients at all levels. Rare for a campaign professional, Smiley holds an M.B.A. and Finance degree from DePaul University in Chicago. He resides in Providence, Rhode Island with his husband James DeRentis and is active with a variety of charitable and political causes including the Victory Fund.